Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens CDC, Inc. is a non-profit organization that helps low-to-moderate income families continue to live in Queens by sustainably achieving or preserving homeownership.

By Michael V. Cusenza
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) recently announced that representatives with Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens are now available every Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., at her Howard Beach district office on Cross Bay Boulevard.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens CDC, Inc. is a non-profit organization that helps low-to-moderate income families continue to live in the World’s Borough by sustainably achieving or preserving homeownership. According to Pheffer Amato, the NHSQ staffers will be on-hand to advise FloodHelpNY enrollees, and enroll homeowners in the FloodHelpNY program.
FloodHelpNY provides the enrolled homeowners, after a property audit, with a free elevation certificate (which may reduce flood insurance premiums), and subsequent counseling.
Additionally, NHSQ has organized the free Flood Resiliency Resource Expo/How to be Prepared Fair on Saturday, Aug. 26, 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Our Lady of Grace Church, located at 100-05 159th Ave. To make a reservation, call (718) 457-1017.
Pheffer Amato noted that NHSQ reps are available Wednesdays by appointment only. Call (718) 641-8755 to set up a meeting. The assemblywoman’s Howard Beach office is located at 162-38 Cross Bay Blvd.

By Forum Staff
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz recently announced that her Office is participating in Project: Back to School Backpack and School Supply Drive, the annual donation initiative organized by the Coalition for the Homeless.
The drive, which is scheduled to culminate on Sept. 1, is organized every year to collect the following school supplies for homeless youth:
Backpacks, No. 2 pencils, hard pencil case, soft pencil case, pencil sharpener, crayons, colored pencils, washable markers, Elmer’s Glue, glue stick, composition notebook, binders, ruled paper, safety scissors, rulers, pocket folders, scientific calculators.
According to Monica Gutierrez, the borough president’s director of education, there are more than 87,000 New York City kids living in homeless shelters or temporary housing.
“These children are starting the school year with a disadvantage when trying to keep up with their peers in class while experiencing unimaginable stress and hardship with their family,” she added.
The borough president has a drop-off box placed in the lobby of Borough Hall located at 120-55 Queens Blvd. in Kew Gardens (by the main entrance security desk). Donations are anonymous and are not tax-deductible. Katz noted that Borough Hall is the only location where “Project: Back to School” donations are being collected this year.

By Forum Staff
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joe Lhota on Thursday announced the appointment of Patrick Foye as president and Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim as managing director of the MTA.
According to Lhota, Foye and Hakim will serve in the newly-created Office of the Chairman, which will also include MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber. Foye and Hakim, Lhota said, will be responsible for managing the agency on a day-to-day basis. Foye will lead innovation and modernization initiatives, and Hakim will be responsible for the operations of the agency.
Lhota recently announced a comprehensive plan to immediately stabilize and modernize the subway system. He said Foye and Hakim will be responsible for implementing the plan.
“Pat and Ronnie are veteran transportation professionals who together with Janno form the dynamic team the MTA needs at this moment,” Lhota added. “Pat and Ronnie will assume the day-to-day leadership of the MTA and ensure that our customers are always our first priority. The plan I recently introduced is ambitious, aggressive, and requires dedicated leadership ensuring operational excellence and long-term innovation – which is exactly what the team in the Office of the Chairman will provide.”
Pat Foye has been the executive director of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and President of PATH since November 2011. At the Port Authority, to advance Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s infrastructure plan, Foye led public-private partnerships for the Goethals Bridge and the nation’s largest PPP for Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport. Prior to joining the Port Authority, he served as deputy secretary for Economic Development for Cuomo. Foye grew up in New York City and lives in Nassau County.
Ronnie Hakim has served as interim executive director of the MTA since January 2017. In 2015, Hakim was named president of MTA New York City Transit, returning to the MTA after an earlier 23-year career at the agency. She has also previously served as the executive director of NJ TRANSIT for a year and a half, and nearly four years as executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

According to NYC Chief Service Officer Paula Gavin, “Volunteerism and civic engagement are such a critical part of the fabric of New York City.”

By Forum Staff
Residents of the five boroughs are engaging in volunteerism at a rate (48 percent) that is more than three times higher than has been traditionally reported, and service continues to be a uniting force in New York, with residents seeking out opportunities to address issues shared by others who hail from similar backgrounds, NYC Service announced on Thursday as it released its “NYCivic Engagement: Neighborhood Volunteer Study & Plan” report.
“Volunteerism and civic engagement are such a critical part of the fabric of New York City, and we’ve seen this time and time again when our communities come together to support one another,” said NYC Chief Service Officer Paula Gavin. “NYC Service is proud to build on this strength through the Neighborhood Volunteer Study & Plan by shedding light on how New Yorkers engage at a neighborhood level and how our City can partner with communities to build, support, and strengthen neighborhood volunteer networks so we can continue to build a stronger and more inclusive city.”
NYC Service – in partnership with the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, and Prof. John Mollenkopf of the CUNY Graduate Center – spent several months studying volunteerism and civic engagement, which included surveying more than 850 individuals and commissioning 14 focus groups in several neighborhoods in Western Queens (among them East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, and Woodside). The door-to-door survey included key questions asked on the national Current Population Survey as well as more detailed questions on civic engagement and social trust.
Key findings of the study include:
New Yorkers are engaging at high levels across many demographic groups through primarily localized opportunities
High levels of volunteering cut across almost all demographic groups surveyed
Respondents engaged in primarily localized opportunities, including those with their children’s schools or local organizations, focused on specific community issues. High levels of engagement were found with religious organizations (outside of attending worship services), particularly among black and Hispanic respondents

Personal interests and identity
drive volunteerism
Relating to a higher moral cause and responding to a specific community need were the strongest influences in activity
Respondents seek out opportunities that align with their community and interests
Volunteerism correlates with other forms of civic engagement, such as voting or attending community meetings

Residents face significant obstacles
to volunteering
Lack of time, by far the largest inhibitor keeping individuals from engaging in their community
Lack of knowledge of available volunteer opportunities
Lack of access to volunteer opportunities due to challenges like language barriers
“This one-of-a-kind effort reveals the contours of civic engagement in some of New York City’s most diverse and interesting neighborhoods – and shows their residents care about neighborhood issues and commit their time to taking care of them,” Prof. Mollenkopf added.

]]>http://theforumnewsgroup.com/2017/08/17/nyc-residents-volunteering-at-a-high-rate-study-2/feed/0Proposed Cut to Forecasting System Could Lead to Delayed Storm Warnings in Area: Schumerhttp://theforumnewsgroup.com/2017/08/17/proposed-cut-to-forecasting-system-could-lead-to-delayed-storm-warnings-in-area-schumer-2/
http://theforumnewsgroup.com/2017/08/17/proposed-cut-to-forecasting-system-could-lead-to-delayed-storm-warnings-in-area-schumer-2/#commentsThu, 17 Aug 2017 14:48:23 +0000http://theforumnewsgroup.com/?p=29027Forum Photo by Richard York

Sen. Schumer said the House cuts would make it even harder for New York’s meteorologists to warn communities about upcoming severe weather.

By Forum Staff
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer this week called on the U.S. House of Representatives to reverse a proposed cut of $369 million to the national weather forecasting system, which includes a fleet of satellites.
Schumer said the cut could jeopardize forecasting and alerts, making it even harder for New York’s meteorologists to warn communities about upcoming severe weather. New York’s senior senator cited lessons of Superstorm Sandy and mobile alerts New Yorkers received this past week when strong thunderstorms and heavy rains touched down as he made the case to undo the cuts.
“A stronger-than-normal hurricane season looks like it’s rolling on in, just as Congress tries to roll right over the critical federal funding that ensures the nation’s weather satellites deliver us the forecasting we need to not just plan our day—but to be prepared and stay alive,” Schumer said. “In cities like New York and across Long Island, down-to-the-block forecasting abilities can mean the difference between an evacuation or an ‘all-clear’ and that’s why it makes no sense to cut key federal resources that go towards upgrading, repairing and replacing our essential weather satellites. The information we gather on weather from high above the earth translates to safety on the ground and that’s why we must put high pressure on Congress before these essential weather satellites become wasted space junk. The House of Representatives should reverse course and restore these funds, which local meteorologists rely on for accurately predicting extreme weather patterns.”
The senator noted that the House has proposed cutting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Polar Follow-On program by $369 million, compared to the Senate’s proposal; the PFO program includes a next-generation polar-orbiting satellite that will provide the National Weather Service the data it needs to accurately predict storm patterns and weather forecasts. Schumer also pointed to a brand-new forecast report released this week that suggests a 62-percent chance of a major hurricane hitting the Atlantic Coast. Schumer said that in light of this new analysis, and recent storms across the state, Congress should restore these cuts and make sure the national weather forecasting operation is sufficiently funded.
Additionally, Schumer pointed to a recent Newsday story that noted how forecasters now see a 71-percent probability of a hurricane striking the East Coast this storm season – up from the 51-percent probability announced in April. The same report, which cited Colorado State University forecast experts, also said the odds of the most dangerous storms, categories 3 through 5, increased to 38 percent from 24 percent this April. Schumer said these new warnings should be alarm bells for Congress as they consider the consequences of cuts to the weather satellite system.

“I praise every person who has taken that courageous first step to call, text, or chat, and I applaud our incredible counselors who are committed to serving their fellow New Yorkers,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray.

By Forum Staff
NYC Well, the City’s free, confidential mental health support helpline, has exceeded maximum initial projections by 25 percent since its launch in late October 2016, First Lady Chirlane McCray announced on Friday.
During the first eight months of operation, McCray noted that NYC Well received more than 170,000 calls, texts and chats; the high demand for service prompted the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to expand its capacity.
“For too long, too many New Yorkers didn’t know where to turn when they needed mental health services. Now, just eight months after launching, thousands of people have placed calls to NYC Well for help connecting to mental health services, for themselves or someone they love,” McCray added. “NYC Well is a free and confidential helpline, which means no one has to struggle alone, and the popularity of the service helps lessen the stigma around mental health that still plagues our communities. I praise every person who has taken that courageous first step to call, text, or chat, and I applaud our incredible counselors who are committed to serving their fellow New Yorkers.”
According to the administration, NYC Well is a connection to counseling, crisis intervention, peer support and referrals to ongoing treatment services serving all five boroughs. The ThriveNYC program is available 24/7, accessible in more than 200 languages and staffed by professional mental health counselors at the NYC Well Call Center. The program is administered by the Mental Health Association of New York City and funded through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
According to the City, the NYC Well Call Center Staff provides support at three intervention levels:
Crisis – Counselors handle the majority of calls requiring immediate de-escalation services – offering safety planning strategies and other forms of support.
Support – Counselors cater to those in need of better coping mechanisms or assistance with de-escalating concerns.
Information & Referral – Counselors educate individuals about a variety of mental health and substance misuse services.
“NYC Well has gone above and beyond our expectations in providing New Yorkers a service that uses the ways we communicate now: call, text and chat,” said Health Commissioner Mary Bassett, M.D. “I want to remind all New Yorkers who are concerned about their mental health or the mental health of a loved one that they can reach NYC Well at any hour of the day, any day of the year. Pursuing health is never a sign of weakness.”
According to officials, of those who contacted NYC Well from October 2016 to June 2017, 13 percent were identified as individuals in crisis, 47 percent were seeking support and 40 percent needed information or a referral for services. Since the beginning of the program, 7,679 people consented to follow-up services and 2,732 people requested to be transferred to immediate behavioral health services by NYC Well counselors.
“NYC Well makes it easy for all New Yorkers to get the care they need by calling, texting or chatting. No one should be in a situation where they don’t know what to do for themselves or a loved one who is experiencing mental health challenges. After eight full months of service it is clear that NYC Well is meeting a significant need across all five boroughs within NYC,” said Richard Buery, deputy mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives.

By Forum Staff
An East Elmhurst man has been charged with criminal possession of a 17-year-old tortoise by the name of Millenium (sic), that had been snatched from the Alley Pond Environmental Center in Douglaston on July 17, 2017.
District Attorney Brown said, “In the eyes of Millenium the tortoise, the wheels of justice must appear to be turning exceedingly swift. Abducted from his peaceful Queens habitat and transported across state lines to be traded, the man accused of brokering the deal is now being held accountable for his alleged actions but, more important, Millenium is back home where he belongs, much to the delight of children and other visitors to the environmental center.”
The defendant is identified as Shawn Waters, 36, of 103rd Street in East Elmhurst. Waters was arraigned on a criminal complaint charging him with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a Class E felony punishable by up to four years in prison. Waters was held on $10,000 bail and ordered to return to court on August 16.
According to the complaint, an Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) employee discovered that Millenium, an African spurred tortoise, was missing at approximately 4:00 p.m. on July 16, and that there was a hole in the rear fence near the tortoise habitat.
The 17-year-old tortoise is estimated to be worth approximately $2,500. DA Brown noted that a Stamford, Connecticut, man had posted an ad on Craigs list that he was selling a musk turtle and that, a day later, he received a cell phone call from a man who stated that he wanted to trade an African spurred tortoise for the turtle.
On July 23, the Connecticut man met with the caller at the Fairfield Metro North train station and traded his musk turtle and $300 for an African spurred tortoise.
One day later, a detective from the NYPD’s 111th Detective Squad recovered the African spurred tortoise from the Connecticut man and, the following day, an APEC employee allegedly identified the recovered tortoise as the one that had been stolen from the environmental center.
The cell phone used by the man trading the African spurred tortoise came back to the defendant Waters. It is alleged that in speaking with the NYPD detective, Waters stated, in sum and substance, that he had indeed spoken to the Connecticut man who had mentioned that he was looking for a tortoise. Additionally, after a series of phone calls with different people, Waters eventually spoke with somebody to whom he stated that he was looking for a tortoise.
The next day, Waters received a photograph of a tortoise that the person was willing to give him in exchange for a snapping turtle.
Waters allegedly picked up the tortoise in Bayside and then went up to Connecticut to exchange the tortoise for the turtle.

By Forum Staff
The Ozone Howard Little League 10U Bulldogs on Friday capped a magical season by defeating a New Jersey squad, 15-5, to win the 2017 Eastern Regional Softball Championship in Pennsylvania.
The girls toppled teams from 11 east coast states to emerge victorious at the prestigious Jenkins Township tournament.
When asked who had earned Most Valuable Player honors, manager Lou Piazza said, “You can’t single one girl out—this is an accomplishment of the whole team. Each girl contributed, from pitching to good base running to great hitting.”
Coach Tiffani Spinelli added, “These girls are really special, and deserve this. It is the girls’ dedication, along with the support of their parents, that made this all possible.”
It has been an historic ride for this Bulldogs team. The girls scored a spot in last week’s tourney after clinching both the New York City and State championships.

Andrade allegedly struck at least six times inside Forest Park from 2011 to 2013.

By Michael V. Cusenza
DNA swabbed from a beer bottle discarded inside Forest Park several years ago led City Police detectives to slap cuffs on an alleged serial sexual predator last week for a string of previously unsolved attacks at the massive borough green space.
Though Mark Andrade, 45, has been charged with two of the incidents – March 29 and Aug. 26 of 2013 – police officials said they expect to attribute four other attacks to the Richmond Hill resident.
Andrade, who has an arrest record, was arraigned on Thursday on a criminal complaint charging him with a slew of felonies, including first-degree attempted rape. Bail was set at $2 million bond/$500,000 cash.
According to authorities, as the 23-year-old jogger attempted to fight off Andrade during the March 29 assault, she ripped a beer bottle out of his pocket and tossed it. The bottle was retrieved and swabbed; the DNA match was discovered last week after Andrade was picked up in Nassau County for grand larceny and had his mouth swabbed.
Investigators have indicated that they believe that Andrade is also responsible for these Forest Park attacks: On Nov. 18, 2012 he allegedly assaulted a 40-year-old woman as she walked her dog; on Aug. 15, 2012, Andrade allegedly fondled a 34-year-old woman at Woodhaven Boulevard and Park Lane South; he allegedly struck and attempted to disrobe his youngest victim, a 13-year-old girl, on Sept. 7, 2011; and on March 25, 2011, in what cops believe was his initial attack, Andrade allegedly jumped a 54-year-old female jogger from behind on Park Lane South.
Andrade’s next court date is Aug. 18.

By Michael V. Cusenza
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) on Monday called on the City Economic Development Corporation, which administers the new NYC Ferry, to immediately switch from a proprietary-only fare system to honoring Metropolitan Transportation Authority MetroCards, so that seniors, disabled citizens, and students don’t get double-charged for using the ferry.
According to the assemblywoman, EDC offers a monthly senior/disabled pass, but the program requires that the customer mail in their proof of disability or existing MTA reduced-fare eligibility in order to be certified, and that they pay the same amount (50 percent) for the extra ferry pass that they do for their MTA pass. Students, Pheffer Amato said, get special MTA passes based on their distance from school, but those passes cannot be used on the ferry.
“Mass transit is supposed to be most helpful to those who have the hardest time getting around,” Pheffer Amato added. “I know for a fact that the ferry would allow our seniors and students to reengage hugely with everything the city has to offer. But right now, if they make use of this great new option, they have to pay double for a monthly pass and get certified twice. That’s unfair, and it makes no sense.”
However, NYCEDC told The Forum this week that that’s not the case. According to spokeswoman Stephanie Baez, although the two transportation systems are not currently integrated, all NYC Ferry costs are aligned with the costs of the MetroCard and offer similar discounts for seniors, children, and people with disabilities. Transfers within the ferry network are free of charge.
Additionally, Baez said, “It is our understanding that the MTA is planning to phase out use of the existing MetroCard system and is exploring next generation payment methods. Once the new MTA payment option is known, we will continue to look for ways to integrate payment options with NYC Ferry. In the meantime, we remain focused on initial rollout of NYC Ferry for this year and in 2018.”

By Michael V. Cusenza
Area elected officials and community leaders recently met with City Department of Transportation representatives at the notorious Lindenwood Triangle, urging the agency to immediately install enhanced safety measures at the infamous intersection of 153rd Street, 155th Street and 88th Avenue.
Residents have been calling attention to the spot for years for being confusing for motorists and perilous for pedestrians.
The meeting was organized by Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) and featured fellow pols State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park); an official from Borough President Melinda Katz’s Office; Community Board 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton; and the leadership of the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic Association.
“After years of pressure, the DOT changed some signs from No Parking to No Standing Anytime, and so far that’s about it,” Pheffer Amato said. “While we appreciate inching forward, we really have to step in and completely reevaluate this intersection. I think all of the elected officials at the meeting were in accord on this point, because we’ve all been hearing complaints in our office for years. This intersection has been identified by the civic association and other residents as a menace, it’s a clear project for the DOT to move forward on, and we’re calling for an end to the foot-dragging right now.”
Ulrich declared, “It is imperative that the City makes safety at Lindenwood Triangle a priority. While there have been some minor improvements, pedestrians and motorists are still subjected to dangerous conditions at the intersection.”
Poor visibility and the confusing configuration of the triangle have sparked accidents and myriad near-misses for many years, area residents have noted. Additionally, in winter, the unusual positions of the crosswalks at the intersection prevent City Sanitation Department plows from properly clearing paths for pedestrians.
“It’s time to make this area safe for its residents,” Pheffer Amato added, “for people who work and go to school there – I took my own children to PS 242 in that area not long ago – and for everyone who uses it. The more an unsafe street lingers, the greater the probability of something tragic happening. The intersection needs to be re-thought and re-shaped now, before the unthinkable happens.”
The HBLC thanked the elected officials for their continued support regarding proper solutions for the Triangle.
“Without their help, we realize that none of the current or future improvements could happen, and we appreciate their steadfast work on this issue,” said civic President Joann Ariola.

Phil Vetrano said his slain daughter, Karina, has been on his mind “every minute” of the past year.

By Michael V. Cusenza
The Vetrano family recently thanked those who attended last Wednesday’s memorial walk through Howard Beach marking the one-year anniversary of Karina’s murder, and characterized their beloved daughter as a “phenomenon” who, even in death, has notched plenty of accomplishments.
“Thanks to all of you that came out last night. It was a wonderful tribute to my baby girl and a testament to how magical she was and still is,” dad Phil wrote on Thursday on the Karina Vetrano Memorial Reward Fund page on GoFundMe.com. “I wouldn’t be able to get through this nightmare if it weren’t for Karina’s friends who are now my family. Natasha and the remaining Cuban 6 are daughters. Thank you all.”
And in a post published on the site on Sunday, Phil wrote, “Hello world. It has recently occurred to me that Karina has become a phenomenon. I realized this at the memorial walk on the anniversary of her murder. There were 500 people there, all walking for and remembering Karina. It’s incomprehensible that Karina has been front-page news for an entire year but she has. She’s been on my mind every minute of that year so it’s normal for me but for TV, radio, newsprint, all to still be crazy for Karina story’s , that’s extraordinary.
I think I can explain why… Since she has passed she has accomplished more than most do when they are alive. Namely the passing of familial DNA searching. No one could get this passed in NY state. No one. But Karina did it in 5 months. This testing is the greatest tool NY State law enforcement has ever received and Karina gave it to them. She has started a scholarship at Archbishop Molloy HS. She has been in Runner’s World magazine in an article about female joggers and how to be safe while running. She has donated to many great causes and that is because of all of you.
And she is not done not even close. She will continue to make news and do amazing things this I guarantee.
Look for a printed version of her writing in the future, this she wanted.
Yes Karina is a phenomenon.”

“We are asking the wealthiest in our city to chip in a little extra to help move or transit system into the 21st century,” Mayor de Blasio said.

By Michael V. Cusenza
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday unveiled what he characterized as a progressive City tax proposal – levied on fewer than 1 percent of the city’s wealthiest tax filers – aimed at raising as much as $800 million annually for the Big Apple’s deteriorating subway and bus system.
The proposed tax adjustment would also allow the City to cut in half subway and bus fares paid by 800,000 low-income residents, de Blasio said.
The “Fair Fix” tax would increase the City’s highest income tax rate to 4.41 percent, from 3.876 percent, on taxable incomes above $500,000 for individuals, and above $1 million for couples. The tax, according to the administration, will be paid by an estimated 32,000 NYC tax filers – 0.8 percent of Gotham’s filers.
“Rather than sending the bill to working families and subway and bus riders already feeling the pressure of rising fares and bad service, we are asking the wealthiest in our city to chip in a little extra to help move or transit system into the 21st century,” de Blasio added. “Instead of searching for a quick-fix that doesn’t exist, or simply forking over more and more of our tax dollars every year, we have come up with a fair way to finance immediate and long-term transit improvement and to better hold the State accountable for the system’s performance. Our subways and buses are the veins that make life in the greatest city in the world possible. This fair funding source will provide immediate help to straphangers – and it will help New Yorkers get around our city reliably for the next generation and beyond.”
The City said the proposed tax is projected to raise $700 million in 2018, before rising to $820 million a year by 2022. The new investment will add on to an annual $1.6 billion in City operational support for subways and buses, and a $2.5 billion commitment in 2015 to the long-term needs of the MTA.
The $500 million in revenue dedicated to modernizing the aging subways and buses could support borrowing up to $8 billion for capital upgrades. The mayor indicated that he believes this funding should be immediately directed toward core infrastructure issues like signal improvements, new cars, and track maintenance key to reducing delays and disruptions that have paralyzed the system in recent months.
Half-priced MetroCards for low-income New Yorkers will be financed by an expected $250 million of the revenue raised by the “Fair Fix” tax, according to the administration. As many as 800,000 New Yorkers are expected to qualify for half-priced MetroCards based on their income levels.
“The good news is that Mayor de Blasio has acknowledged New York City’s significant ownership of the New York City Transit Authority and the fact that new funding is needed to modernize the subway system. The bad news is that the mayor has not acknowledged that the MTA needs funding today,” said MTA Chairman Joe Lhota, de Blasio’s GOP opponent in the 2013 mayoral race. “You can’t delay an emergency plan to stop delays. The challenges the subways are facing today need immediate resources and solutions right now, not years from now.”
The Riders Alliance, a leading commuter advocacy group, praised de Blasio’s proposal, and echoed the sentiment that system accountability originates and terminates in Albany.
“Any real path to a solution will require Governor Cuomo and state lawmakers to stand up for riders and establish a sustainable funding source for the MTA,” said RA Executive Director John Raskin.

The person of interest was seen near the victim’s building on several occasions in the weeks prior to last month’s incident.

By Michael V. Cusenza
The City Police Department recently released a sketch of a person of interest wanted in connection with a bombing last month that left a Springfield Gardens man dead.
According to police and published reports, a package detonated in the hands of George Wray, 73, as he tried to open it in front of his 229th Street home on Friday, July 28, around 4:10 p.m. Wray, a Jamaican immigrant, suffered severe burns over 80 percent of his body; he was removed to Nassau University Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, Aug. 1. George Wray leaves behind a wife and a son.
The cylindrical package bomb was left on the porch of the two-family house. According to the New York Daily News, police sources indicated that the intended target was a Bloods gang member who rented an apartment in Wray’s building.
According to investigators, the person of interest in the sketch had been seen near the site of the explosion several times in the weeks before the incident.
He is described as a black man, 30 to 35 years old, 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, with dark-colored eyes and a mustache.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, (888) 57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit info by logging onto NYPDCrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All correspondences are strictly confidential.

]]>http://theforumnewsgroup.com/2017/08/10/cops-release-sketch-of-person-of-interest-in-fatal-springfield-gardens-bombing/feed/0In Support of S.6838http://theforumnewsgroup.com/2017/08/10/in-support-of-s-6838/
http://theforumnewsgroup.com/2017/08/10/in-support-of-s-6838/#commentsThu, 10 Aug 2017 18:40:44 +0000http://theforumnewsgroup.com/?p=28995
Sometimes, it just makes sense. Even in politics. Even in Albany.
Late last month, State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) introduced S.6838, legislation that would help to provide financial assistance to the spouse and/or dependents of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel killed in the line of duty. The idea for the ‘Familia bill,’ according to Peralta, stems from the assassination of NYPD Det. Miosotis Familia in the Bronx.
Sometimes, it just makes sense.
The bill would establish the Police Officer, Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Services Family Housing Fund, which will provide up to $1,000 per month to help offset rent or mortgage payments for eligible families. The legislation intends to award monthly payments – up to a maximum of 10 years – to survivors of fallen public protection members for their housing expenses.
The State would appropriate $10 million to the fund, and it would be administered by the Comptroller.
“First responders risk their lives on a daily basis to protect and assist us in case of an emergency. When tragedy strikes them, we must ensure we take care of the survivors of our fallen heroes by providing them with additional benefits,” Peralta said. “Under the ‘Familia Bill,’ family members of officers, firefighters and emergency medical services officers can breathe easily knowing that they will be able to take care of their housing financial obligations. The Police Officer, Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Services Family Housing Fund will supplement the forms of assistance already received by the family members of fallen heroes, including pension benefits and life insurance payments. It is a gap in benefits where family members end up turning, at times, to private and nonprofits organizations with no guarantees, potentially leaving victims’ loved ones with no safety net.”
Sometimes, it just makes sense.
Senate bill S.6838 made us think of the angelic work of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a New York City non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and supporting first responders and military veterans. Tunnel to Towers has raised more than $3.2 million for families of fallen first responders. The group has organized the construction of 200 smart homes for catastrophically injured American service members. And Tunnel to Towers certainly stood tall in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
According to his family, hero Firefighter Stephen Siller lived his life by the guiding philosophy of St. Francis of Assisi and his inspirational words “while we have time, let us do good.”
Albany: Pass S.6838 as quickly as possible.
While we have time, let us do good.
Sometimes, it just makes sense.

Earlier this year, McNaughton’s name was added to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.

By Michael V. Cusenza
In a press conference on Thursday touting citywide crime statistics Police Commissioner Jim O’Neill singled out the service of war hero James McNaughton, a Middle Village resident who 12 years ago last Wednesday became the first NYPD officer killed in action in Iraq.
“Jimmy joined the Army in 1996, was honorably discharged five years later in the summer of 2001, he immediately reenlisted in the Reserves and joined the NYPD the very next day. Jimmy was deployed to Iraq in 2004, and then on August 2nd, 2005, while training Iraq police while up in a guard tower, Jimmy was struck and killed by a sniper’s bullet,” O’Neill said. “At just 27 years old Jimmy gave more to this city and this nation than every one of us will ever. His service to this police department was in his blood with both parents and his fiancée serving in the NYPD too. I spoke to his dad Bill last night. We miss him like we miss all our heroes, and we’ll always honor their memories.”

Dozens of City Police Department colleagues recently joined the family and friends of Det. Randolph Holder in Far Rockaway to honor the slain cop with a street dedication.
Briar Place at Collier Avenue was officially co-named “Detective Randolph Holder Way” on Friday. Holder, 33, a Guyanese immigrant with five years on the force, was gunned down on Oct. 20, 2015 while responding to a call of shots fired in East Harlem. Tyrone “Peanut” Howard, 30, a recidivist criminal with suspected gang ties, was convicted earlier this year of Holder’s murder.
City Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson, chairwoman of the Council Public Safety Committee (l.) and Maria Otero, executive director of Administration for the NYPD, joined Holder’s dad, Randolph Sr., at Friday’s ceremony.

By Michael V. Cusenza
The latest chapter of the citywide crime story seems to support the Police Department’s now long-running assertion that “NYC is Safe and Keeps Getting Safer.”
July NYPD CompStat figures show that each of the five boroughs enjoyed a reduction in overall crime, compared to the same 31-day period last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Jim O’Neill announced on Thursday as they touted the overwhelmingly positive summer numbers.
The city experienced 743 fewer index crimes, or -8.1 percent in July 2017, compared with July 2016. This reduction also set a new record for the fewest index crimes of any July in the modern CompStat-era, department officials noted. These reductions further contributed to the 3,471 fewer overall index crimes citywide, or -6 percent year-to-date, compared with 2016; as well as the 91 fewer shootings citywide, or -17.1 percent year-to-date, compared with 2016.
According to the NYPD, there were 35 murders reported in July 2017, compared with 34 in July 2016. There were 126 rapes reported in July 2017, compared with 148 in July 2016 – a 14.9-percent reduction. There were 1,224 robberies reported in July 2017, compared with 1,389 in July 2016 – an 11.9-percent reduction. There were 1,854 felonious assaults reported in July 2017, compared with 2,142 in July 2016 – a 13.4-percent drop. There were 1,008 burglaries reported last month, compared with 1,103 last year at the same time – an 8.6-percent reduction. There were 3,684 grand larcenies reported in July 2017, compared with 3,809 last July – a 3.3-percent dip. There were 546 grand larceny autos reported last month, compared with 595 in July 2016 – an 8.2-percent drop. And there were 80 shooting incidents reported in July 2017, compared with 97 reported in the same month last year. This is a 17.5-percent decrease in reported shootings.
“Much of the credit for our consistent reduction in crime is owed to the men and women in blue, and it is the cops who are working now and for all those who came before them that got us to where we are now,” O’Neill noted. “But as time goes on, we increasingly need to have those strong relationships we’re developing between our cops and everybody who lives and works in all our communities. They’re the ones who know the criminals, they’re the ones who know who’s on their streets, on their block, in their housing developments, and in their neighborhoods. No one knows better about what’s going on on their block than the people that live and work there. And they’re the ones that can help us maintain our focus, maintain our efforts, maintain where we’re going to put our resources in the right areas. So we need that connection between New Yorkers and our officers. We need everybody’s help because public safety will always be a shared responsibility.”

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach; second from l.) on Saturday presented an Assembly Resolution to Edwin Wilmarth, Jr. for 50 years of service with the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department.
Wilmarth, who turned 70 on Monday, is a sixth-generation volunteer firefighter, and still serves as an Engineer in the VFD. All three of his children became volunteer firefighters as well.
“Mr. Wilmarth has served as a firefighter, a company officer, and an elected deputy chief from 1975 – 1977,” said Pheffer Amato, who was joined at Saturday’s celebration by her mom, Queens County Clerk Audrey Pheffer, and her predecessor in the Assembly, Phil Goldfeder. “For the last twenty-plus years, he’s held the rank of chief engineer, where he is in charge of vehicle maintenance, as well as the rank of head chauffeur, training new members on how to drive and pump engines, all while still actively responding to alarms. He’s also held the rank of president of the Volunteer Firemen’s Association of the City of New York, representing the many other volunteer fire departments in our city. Wilmarth has dedicated his entire adult life to the volunteer fire service and to the town of Broad Channel, and it speaks volumes that all three of his children went into the service with him. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude, and may God make us all as productive, energetic, faithful and wonderful people at age 70 as the chief is today!”

Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens CDC, Inc. is a non-profit organization that helps low-to-moderate income families continue to live in Queens by sustainably achieving or preserving homeownership.

By Michael V. Cusenza
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) recently announced that representatives with Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens are now available every Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., at her Howard Beach district office on Cross Bay Boulevard.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens CDC, Inc. is a non-profit organization that helps low-to-moderate income families continue to live in the World’s Borough by sustainably achieving or preserving homeownership. According to Pheffer Amato, the NHSQ staffers will be on-hand to advise FloodHelpNY enrollees, and enroll homeowners in the FloodHelpNY program.
FloodHelpNY provides the enrolled homeowners, after a property audit, with a free elevation certificate (which may reduce flood insurance premiums), and subsequent counseling.
Additionally, NHSQ has organized the free Flood Resiliency Resource Expo/How to be Prepared Fair on Saturday, Aug. 26, 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Our Lady of Grace Church, located at 100-05 159th Ave. To make a reservation, call (718) 457-1017.
Pheffer Amato noted that NHSQ reps are available Wednesdays by appointment only. Call (718) 641-8755 to set up a meeting. The assemblywoman’s Howard Beach office is located at 162-38 Cross Bay Blvd.